Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Public Protection team has closed a premises which allowed people to smoke inside.

The Sahara on Darwen Street in Blackburn was found to be operating illegally and the owner was ordered to pay a total of £2,562.

It was visited by staff from the Council’s Public Protection Service and members of Lancashire Constabulary acting on intelligence and complaints from members of the public.

There were allegations that the premises was continuing to run as a commercial shisha business and smoking was being allowed to continue within what was a smoke free premises.

This visit confirmed that the intelligence and complaints were accurate and members of the public were being allowed to smoke shisha pipes in the premises.

Once the offence had been established the Police seized 62 shisha pipes and associated paraphernalia present on the premises.

Owner Mr Adi Jabar pleaded guilty in court and was convicted of allowing people to smoke within an enclosed premises. This is the fourth time he has been found guilty of this offence.

Mr Jabar was fined £257, ordered to pay £2,257 in costs to the Council and a victim surcharge of £30.

The court agreed that the pipes should be forfeited and will be destroyed.

Gary Johnston, Manager of the Public Protection Service, said:

This prosecution demonstrates the Council’s continuing commitment to taking action against illegal shisha houses. In this case, an effective response to intelligence has resulted in a successful operation.

As always, members of the public are encouraged to report any concerns about shisha houses to the Council. “